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Early Hungarian Postage Stamps (1871-1900)

The first specifically Hungarian postage stamps were issued on May 1, 1871, after the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 which reassigned the Hungarian post to the Agricultural, Industrial and Commercial Ministry of the Kingdom of Hungary. These early stamps featured the portrait of Emperor Franz Josef I above the Hungarian coat of arms, with values from 2 to 25 kreuzer. The 25 kreuzer stamp is particularly valuable for distinguishing the issues. Some key facts about these early Hungarian stamps:

  • The first stamps were produced by lithography, followed by engraved sets
  • The very first printing was of poor quality and most had to be destroyed, with only a small quantity released in August 1873 which are now rare
  • Values included 2, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 25 kreuzer
  • Colours ranged from orange, green, rose, blue, brown and violet
  • Perforations were 9¼ x 9½ or imperforate
  • Stamps were in use until 1900

Hungarian Postage Stamps in the 20th Century

In the early 20th century, Hungary issued stamps commemorating the full independence of the Hungarian Post declared in 1908. During World War I and the interwar period, Hungary continued issuing stamps featuring the Hungarian coat of arms and portraits of rulers. In the modern era, Hungary has issued many commemorative and thematic stamps on a wide range of subjects. Some recent issues have featured:

  • Indigenous Hungarian chicken breeds in 2022
  • The 24th Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022
  • The Chinese Year of the Tiger in 2022
  • The 10th anniversary of Hungary’s Fundamental Law in 2022. Today, the Hungarian Post offers stamp collecting services including a stamp subscription, stamp orders, and the ability to create personalized stamps. Collectors can find a wide variety of Hungarian stamps from dealers specializing in Eastern European philately